Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council

 

Clerk: Mike Mortimer, Lime Tree Farmhouse, Common Road, Shelfanger, Norfolk IP22 2DR

  Tel:  01379 642763  email:bressingham.pc@tiscali.co.uk

 

66

 

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in the Village Hall  on 24th April 2007

 

 

Chairman Dave Hodges opened the meeting at 7.30pm and welcomed members of the public

 

Present:

Councillors  Mr K Webb,  Mrs L Gerrard,  Mr D Hodges, Mr R Aves

Cllr K Weeks (SNDC), the clerk M Mortimer,  and about 10 members of the public

 

 

1.  Apologies for absence

 

Apologies were received from The Rev Mellowship, Neil Morley, Iris Debock, Brenda Webb, Mrs M Dain,

R W Bartrum, County Councillor Spratt

 

 

2.  Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 25th April 2006

 

Copies had been made available at the meeting and the minutes were approved and signed

 

 

3.  Matters arising from the Minutes

 

There were no matters arising

 

 

4.  Annual Report of the Parish Council

 

The Chairman reported that it had been quite a busy year with road repairs, the letting of the allotment land and the continued search for a site for the proposed affordable housing. He expressed disappointment at the lack of progress regarding the development of the affordable housing. The report is in the minute book.

 

 

5.  Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st March 2005

 

The Parish Clerk presented a statement of the Parish Council’s Accounts for the year to 31st March 2007.   A copy of the statement is included in the minute book. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

67

 

 

6.  Reports from Charities

 

Town Lands Charity -  Cllr Kinnear-King reported that there was £3429.37 in the current account and £9388.33 in the deposit account.  The Councillor made it clear that the charity was happy to see more applications for donations.  The Drama Group expressed an interest in applying.

 

Fuel Allotments – Councillor Rodger Aves reported that during the year it had received £313.06 and  19 deserving people in the village had been given £16 each towards fuel costs.

 

Elizabeth Barker Charity – A report was provided and read by the Chairman. It stated that whilst no grants had been made in 2006/7 there were to be some in the current financial year. The report is included in the minute book.

 

Clay Allotments Charity – Councillor Aves informed the meeting that there had been a number of changes recently with some trustees resigning. The records, he said, were not fully up to date but he was able to report that there was approximately £5000 in the fund.

 

There was no report on the Ellingham Charity  in the absence of the Rev Mellowship.

 

 

7.  Report from the School Governor

 

Mr John Dain read a report on behalf of Mrs Dain who was unable to attend. It stated that the school had received a favourable Ofsted report with particular praise for its extra-curricular activities. A copy of the full report is included in the minute book.

 

 
8.  Reports from Parish Organizations:

 

Reports were given by:

 

Bressingham PCC

Mrs Iris Debock thanked the Parish Council for its contribution towards the cost of maintaining the burial ground.

 

Fersfield PCC

There was no representative from Fersfield.

 

Bressingham & Fersfield Parent & Toddler Group

A positive report (a copy is included)  was provided by Jackie Alder who was unable to attend the meeting  stating that there were still nine to ten toddlers coming regularly. Its account was in credit.

 

Bressingham Playgroup

Brad Roberts gave the report expressing concern at the declining numbers and the financial implications.

His report is included in the minute book.

 

Bressingham Village Drama Group

Brenda Webb provided a report. It declared that the Drama Group had another successful year and donated £940 to the Village Hall as a result of its activities. 

 

68

 

Bressingham & District Ladies’ Club

Chris Peachey reported that it too had had a successful year.  There were 34 members and three honorary members. There were 11 meetings and ten speakers- one eagerly expected speaker failing to turn up. It had made donations including £125 to Quidenham Hospice and £25 to Addenbrooks.

 

Bressingham Village Hall and Recreation Association

Brad Roberts reported a busy year of fund raising included the very successful  Blues Brothers night which Councillor Hodges said he’d very much enjoyed and was pleased to hear that another was planned. The Villge hall itself, the report stated, was in need of some repairs and the association was considering some improvements to the kitchen area and toilets with access from the outside. The full report is in the Minute Book.

 

Bressingham Silver Thread Club

There was no representative from the Silver Thread Club and concern was expressed by some councilors that no report was available as the Parish Council did make a donation to it in the form of payment for use of the village hall.

 

Bressingham Youth Club

Ted Mercer reported that the club was doing well with a regular attendance of 20 - 25 with a total membership of 50. The report is filed with the minutes.

 

9. Report from Norfolk County Council

Councillor Spratt sent his apologies.

 

  

10. Report from South Norfolk District Council

Councillor Weeks reported that he had led a busy year as Shadow Spokesman on the Environment, a member of the LDF steering group and sitting on 9 committees. He felt that his work as part of the Scrutiny group was of particular value.  

 

 

11.  Any other business

 

Councillor Aves said he wanted to thank Barbara Brooke for her work in making sure the War Memorial was well maintained. He pointed out that in the past Keith Rackham from Perfitts had always cleaned it annually. It became clear that most of the Council members were unaware of  Mr Rackhams generous efforts and asked the clerk to write and express its gratitude.

 

The meeting closed at 9.05 pm.